Critical severity · published Jul 3, 2026
CVE-2026-20896
Gitea Docker image trusts spoofable reverse-proxy headers by default
9.8
CVSS
2.8%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
Gitea Docker image versions up to and including 1.26.2 use REVERSE_PROXY_TRUSTED_PROXIES=* by default, allowing any source IP to impersonate a user when reverse-proxy authentication headers such as X-WEBAUTH-USER are enabled.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)2.8% · higher than 86% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
GO
Gitea Open Source Git Server · Gitea
through 1.26.2 · source: vendor
In the news
VulnerabilityCritical
Critical Gitea Docker Bug Under Active Exploitation Exposes Repositories and Secrets
Attackers are exploiting a critical Gitea flaw (CVE-2026-20896) that bypasses authentication with a single HTTP header, exposing repositories and sensitive data. Sysdig researchers warn that attackers are actively exploiting a critical authentication bypass flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-20896 (CVSS score of 9.8), which affects Gitea official Docker images before version 1.26.3. “CVE-2026-20896 exploited 13 days after […]
Jul 7, 2026·Security Affairs
VulnerabilityCritical
Threat Actors Probe Gitea Docker Flaw CVE-2026-20896 13 Days After Disclosure
Threat actors have been observed attempting to exploit a recently patched critical security flaw in Gitea Docker images, according to Sysdig.
The vulnerability in question is CVE-2026-20896 (CVSS score: 9.8), a vulnerability that stems from the DevOps platform trusting the "X-WEBAUTH-USER" header from any source IP address, effectively allowing an unauthenticated internet client to get elevated
Jul 6, 2026·The Hacker News
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20896
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-20896
blog.gitea.com
https://blog.gitea.com/release-of-1.26.3-and-1.26.4/
github.com
https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/pull/38151
github.com
https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/releases/tag/v1.26.3
github.com
https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/security/advisories/GHSA-f75j-4cw6-rmx4
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